Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
615-563-5263
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 615-563-5263.
For residential applications, the iWorQ system creates the permit and impact-fee invoice within three workdays after submission; the permit is issued after the invoice is paid. No separate published plan-review timeline was located for commercial, industrial or multifamily projects.
Use the official iWorQ portal’s Search Permits section to request inspections and access inspection reports. The permit holder, not a subcontractor, is responsible for requesting inspections. Cannon County’s FAQ states that inspections must occur within three working days of request, or within one working day for footer inspections. Typical required inspections include foundation, rough-in/framing, plumbing/mechanical and final; a separate non-monolithic slab inspection may be required.
Cannon County’s current building-permits bulletin states that the county adopted the 2025 International Building Code, including the 2025 International Residential Code and 2025 International Energy Conservation Code. The county administers residential, commercial, industrial and multifamily permits throughout Cannon County, including Woodbury, but excluding Auburntown; Tennessee State Fire Marshal electrical permitting remains separate. The county FAQ says renovations are not covered by the county’s adopted building-code regulation, while additions over 30 square feet are regulated. Manufactured and modular homes do not require a Cannon County residential building permit because they are factory-inspected, but licensed installation and the required installation decal apply and residential impact fees still apply. The county permit is not a substitute for grading/fill, floodplain, septic/sewer, electrical or zoning approvals.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.